Recipes - Information - Inspiration

Ok. This is just simple, smashed red potatoes. It will forever be “Pudge” because my husband ordered meatloaf and pudge on our first date (the Flying Biscuit, ATL). He soon regretted that heavy decision as we enjoyed a concert at Chastain Park .

Marrying a guy from a farm in north Alabama, I’ve heard a lot of “shelling peas” stories. After 21 years, this Yankee was finely brave enough to take on this storied, deeply rooted food memory!! But not without help from those who have Southern roots as well:

Pesto is hands down the biggest bang for your effort buck. It can be a sandwich condiment, pizza topper, a sauce for pasta, take egg dishes to next level yumminess, amp up roasted veggies, melted over roast chicken, a fabulous addition to seafood and be a secret ingredient in soups, stews, hamburgers, meatloaf. Seriously...there is so much more!

My dad loved French Onion Soup. These are the french crocks that I grew up with so this is comfort food on every level for me. You can find so many recipes out there BUT hands down none will ever beat Julia Child’s. Her technique to perfectly caramelize the onions is worth the extra time (hands off!) because of the depth of flavor. Try this...promise you won’t regret it!

When I married my southern hubby, I had to change my understanding of cornbread. He likes it sweet. So I am always trying to marry my northern roots with his southern traditions (and avoid dumping 2/3 cup sugar into mix!).

I first attempted Aioli in the early 90s while reading “A Year in Provence.” I had just returned from living in France and missed the flavor-FULL, “yellow like the sun’ dip/spread/sauce that was ....well everywhere!

Protein is essential for your body; it is needed for the production of hormones (eg glucagon!), neurotransmitters and antibodies; it aids in growth and repair tissue. And without getting all “nutrition-y”, essential amino acids are not produced by our bodies. We MUST consume them. Here is a wonderful, vegan recipe (legumes + grains = complete vegetarian protein!).

So not an expert, but salsa is more liquid-y (is that a word...? eh, good enough). This chunky, mango pico takes most foods (heirloom tomatoes, black beans, fish, burgers, chicken.... seriously, I could go on) from "meh" to magical. Easy, quick and oh so yum.

It's a Mediterranean week around here. Each week we eat our way around the world, preparing and enjoying dishes from the culture-of-the-week each night. As fancy as that sounds, it's really a matter of practicality. It's so much easier and economic to buy spices and ingredients for one style of cooking each week. Today I give you one of my favorites, a tabbouleh recipe using quinoa as the grain base. Soooo good!

A healthy snack that doesn't involve apples, nut butter or hummus😂! Need to get your veggies in? BUT want crunchy, rich, and a bit salty? I've got you covered. My French host family made this for me and I've never looked back.

It's a great time of year. I mean, who doesn't like Spring? The weather starts to warm up - then drops to frigid temperatures again crushing all hope of an early summer - only to sneak back up to the mid-seventies for a hot second before dropping back down, dragging our morale along with it.